May 7, 2015, Wilmington, Ma. - Operators who support global oil and gas producers are known for their high standard of helicopter operations. In recent years, the desire to increase connectivity to the aircraft coupled with the sharp decline in world oil prices has posed a particularly difficult economic challenge to those companies.

April 15, 2015, Portland, Or. - Erickson Incorporated has announced that the company has contracted with
Group Desarrollo Infaestructura, SA de CV (GDI) who is contracted with
Transcanada Corporation’s Mexican Subsidiary, Transportadora de Gas del
Noreste, for a new rural infrastructure pipeline project that will bring
clean-burning natural gas to businesses and citizens in Mexico.

Dec. 1, 2014, Prince George, B.C. - Tempest Aviation Group has become the latest local business to donate to a campaign to establish a dedicated rapid-response air ambulance helicopter service for northern B.C.

Nov. 24, 2014, Prince George, B.C. - The executive director of the Helicopter Emergency Response Operations Society (HEROS) says she should know by the end of January whether there is enough support to bring dedicated emergency medical helicopter service to northern B.C.

Sept. 3, 2014, Vancouver - For three hours, Sue Gordon watched as a massive rescue operation
unfolded after a tour bus carrying 56 people flipped on the Coquihalla
Highway Thursday afternoon. As she was getting ready to continue her
trip home to Tsawwassen, she bent down to pull off a bloody piece of
paper that had blown against her leg.

July 28, 2014, Moscow, Rus. - As recently announced by the Moscow Health Department, following an open tender, Airbus Helicopters Vostok was awarded a contract to supply two medical helicopters for the Health Department’s Scientific and Practical Centre of Emergency Medicine. The preferred rotorcraft among two other bidders was the proven EC145.

July 23, 2014, Saskatoon - Barrie Tolmie couldn’t contain his excitement about STARS Air Ambulance’s new helicopter. “Compared
to what we’ve been flying before, this helicopter is just absolutely
phenomenal,” the pilot said, with the enthusiasm of a teenager showing
off a new hotrod.

Jan. 12, 2015, Samarate, Italy - AgustaWestland has announced it has achieved European Aviation
Safety Agency (EASA) certification for the Search and Rescue variant of
the AW189, paving the way for the delivery of aircraft for the UK search
and rescue programme.

Dec. 23, 2014, Samarate, Italy - AgustaWestland has announced it has achieved European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification for the Search and Rescue variant of the AW189, paving the way for the delivery of aircraft for the UK search and rescue programme.

Anxiety is not conducive to positive job performance. It may be especially concerning in high-risk roles – surgery, for example, or landing a helicopter on an oil rig platform on a dark and stormy night.

A few years ago, I was working off at a camp in northern Quebec for a major multinational mining company. The camp was one of the best I have ever been in. Two five-star chefs, warm waterproof accommodation, pleasant customers and hot showers. I didn’t want to go home.

Rain has finally arrived on B.C.’s south coast – and maybe, just maybe, there will be an end to the 2017 fire season. It’s been a record year for wildfires in B.C. and as we passed through the Labour Day weekend, the nominal finish line, there was no end in sight.

Don’t look now, but the world has been changing around us in every way imaginable. People are living longer, healthier lives, crime is the lowest it has ever been, never has so much wealth been created across the widest possible range of demographics, and at the same time, never have so many people been so pessimistic about the future and the passing of “the good ol’ days.”

Shakespeare wrote about a winter of discontent more than 500 years ago. Well, we’ve certainly had our winter of discontent, though while the Bard’s seasonal woes were followed by a “glorious summer,” Canadians will have to wait and see how ours play out.

You definitely know something important is up when former Montreal Canadien Guy Lafleur is in the house. And even though the superstar right winger and current helicopter pilot was a shining NHL star in the mid- to late-1970s, he still provides plenty of “wow” factor wherever he goes, especially in La belle province.

Spring is emerging along the West Coast as winter has been slow to release its grip this year. It has been a difficult winter in many places and looking beyond the weather, it has been an interesting few months around the world to say the least.

In June of this year, Danny Sitnam, president and CEO of Helijet International Inc., was inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame at the CAHF’s 44th annual Gala Dinner. The event was held on the departures level concourse at Vancouver International Airport (YVR).

When I caught up with Stephen Dengler in early August, he was a bit frosted. “The weather has been against us the whole way,” he commented. They were stuck in Nome, Alaska for a couple of days, and he had “no idea” when he, his father, and former Bell Helicopter test pilot Rob ‘Dugal’ MacDuff would complete their world circumnavigation in a Bell 429 GlobalRanger.

Once known as Canadian Holding Company, shortened to CHC, the once $800-million leader in offshore helicopter operations was devastated by the steep decline in oil prices and a pair of fatal accidents. CHC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April 2016.

Earlier this year, Helicopters highlighted OEMS, operators and industry leaders who are enhancing the safety landscape both here in Canada and around the world. In our special Innovation in Canadian Rotary Safety Week Aug. 21-25, Helicopters showcased companies such as Vector Aerospace, Heli-One, VIH Aerospace and more, who are innovating with new technologies and processes in the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) space.

There are people out there who simply don’t recognize opportunities until they are rapidly diminishing in their rear-view mirrors. For those that “get it,” a sound definition of opportunity might be as simple as this: it’s a set of circumstances that make it possible for you to “do something” – in other words take a chance to implement change or seek employment.